Madam President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and my own country, Ukraine.
We welcome today’s consensus on the Report of the International Atomic Energy Agency” (IAEA), which reaffirms strong support for the indispensable role of the Agency in encouraging and assisting the development and practical application of atomic energy for peaceful uses, in technical cooperation and in nuclear safety, verification, security and safeguards.
Madam President,
We condemn in the strongest terms the war of aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine in violation of international law, including the UN Charter.
Underlining due priority to nuclear safety, we also strongly condemn Russia's continued indiscriminate attacks, killing civilians and destroying civilian objects, including critical energy infrastructure.
We recall the IAEA Director-General’s “seven indispensable pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security in an armed conflict” and his “Five Concrete Principles for protecting the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP)”.
Russia’s continued seizure and control of Ukraine’s ZNPP, including the presence of armed troops and military equipment, as reported by the Agency, compromises the IAEA Director General’s “seven indispensable pillars” and puts the implementation of the “Five concrete principles for protecting ZNPP” at risk. It has led to the plant’s ongoing technical degradation and continues to present serious nuclear safety and security risks to the broader region.
We are deeply concerned by the nuclear safety and security risks posed to all Ukraine’s Nuclear Power Plants by the vulnerabilities in Ukraine’s electricity grid resulting from Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. This includes disconnection of Ukraine’s ZNPP from its last external power supply, which lasted for a month, until 23 October, posing a significant challenge for nuclear safety. We are also alarmed by the damage arising from the 14 February 2025 drone strike against the New Safe Confinement at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, built with international effort to prevent the release of radioactive contaminants in the environment.
We firmly reject any attempts to consider the restart of the reactors at Ukraine’s ZNPP, which would be inconsistent with well-established nuclear safety principles. Moreover, any attempt by the Russian Federation to restart the ZNPP would contradict the relevant resolutions of the IAEA Board of Governors, and General Conference, and the UN General Assembly and would be wholly unacceptable. Any restart of the reactors at the ZNPP can only take place once the facility has been returned to the legitimate control and oversight of Ukraine’s competent regulatory authority.
Madam President,
We support the continued physical presence of IAEA experts at Ukraine’s ZNPP in full respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The safety and security of the Agency staff remain of paramount importance. We commend the courage and professionalism of the IAEA staff operating under unprecedented challenges and reiterate the importance of allowing the safe passage of IAEA experts to and from the ZNPP duly on time.
We reiterate our demand that the Russian Federation urgently withdraw its military and other personnel from Ukraine’s ZNPP and immediately return the plant to the full control of the sovereign and competent authorities of Ukraine to ensure its safety and security. This will enable the IAEA to conduct safe, efficient, and effective safeguards implementation in accordance with Ukraine’s comprehensive safeguards agreement and Additional Protocol, consistent with the calls by the UN General Assembly, IAEA General Conference and Board of Governors resolutions.
We reiterate that the release of the unlawfully detained Ukrainian ZNPP personnel by the occupying Russian authorities remains not only a humanitarian imperative — it is a precondition for restoring basic trust and operational safety at the site.
We express our support for the Agency’s continued provision of technical support and assistance to Ukraine to help ensure the safe and secure operation of nuclear facilities, including the continued physical presence of IAEA technical experts at the Chornobyl, Rivne, Khmelnytskyy, and South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plants.
We reaffirm our commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters, and urge the Russian Federation to immediately cease its aggression against Ukraine and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces and other personnel from the sovereign territory of Ukraine.
We reiterate our unwavering support for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in Ukraine, based on international law, including the UN Charter.
Thank you, Madam President.